Feeding out device in a cigarette packeting machine



Nov. 25, 1969 R. OSTERDAHL FEEDING 'OUTDEVICE IN A CIGARETTE PACKETING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 25, 1969 R. OSTERDAHL 3,479,794

FEEDING OUT DEVICE IN A CIGARETTE PACKETING MACHINE Filed Oct. 31, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet z Fig.2

Nov. 25, 1969 1 QSTER'DAHL 3,479,794

FEEDING OUT DEVICE IN A CIGARETTE PACKETING MACHINE Filed Oct. 51, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent Int. Cl. 1565b 35/30, 39/00, J/04 US. Cl. 53-151 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An arrangement in a continuously operating cigarette packaging machine comprising a cigarette storage means with a bottom comprising parallel shafts each provided with a guide plate, a bottom plate with vertical plates with their edges positioned under corresponding edges of said guide plates, between said vertical plates movable plungers are arranged and displaceable together with said bottom plate by a first disc cam a certain length in parallel with a container arranged on a chain passing said storage means, said plungers being actuated in their longitudinal direction by a second disc cam under said certain length to transfer cigarettes fed to the space between said vertical plates into said container.

The present invention relates to an arrangement in continuously operating cigarette packing machines for discharging a portion of cigarettes from a cigarette store to a container arranged on a chain which passes the store at a constant speed; the cigarettes being arranged to be convcyed in their cross direction between parallel shafts disposed at the bottom of the store and which present guide plates so arranged that their lower edges are located opposite the corresponding top edges on plates arranged vertically parallel to a bottom plate and between which latter plates movable rams are adapted to pass in the longitudinal direction of the cigarettes; the space between the vertical plates being arranged to be filled by a number of cigarettes corresponding to one portion.

In cigarette packaging machines known to the art the portioning and packaging of cigarettes is effected at differcut rates of activity and the execution of each tempo is effected in a stationary state. Thus, a portion of cigarettes is discharged from a store into a container while the container is stationary in front of the discharge opening of the store. The container does not pass to the next phase in the production line until the portion of cigarettes has been introduced into the same. One method of providing for an increase in the efiiciency and capacity of the machine is to allow the same to operate continuously, whereby stationary sequencies are avoided. This means, among other things, that the container doesnot stop in front of the cigarette store but passes the same at a constant speed. The cigarettes must therefore be inserted into the container in some suitable manner, whilst the said container is passing the store of cigarettes.

The object of the present invention is to transfer the cigarettes from the store to the container without stopping the container. The invention is mainly characterized in that the bottom plate presenting vertical plates between which a number of cigarettes constituting one portion are located, and the rams which are movably arranged between said plate, are arranged on a movable disc which can be displaced in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of the container, and which is adapted to be actuated by a first disc cam, the movement of which cam is coordinated with the movement of the container in such a way that the bottom plate, rams and container move parallel along a certain length of the advancing path of the container side by side; the rams being adapted to transfer the cigarettes to the container within said distance, by the actuation of a second disc cam.

The invention will be more closely described with reference to the accompanying drawings where FIGURE 1 shows an embodiment of the arrangement seen from the side, in the transfer direction of the cigarettes,

FIGURE 2 shows a portion of the arrangement seen from behind and FIGURE 3 shows a portion of the arrangement seen from the front in the longitudinal direction of the cigarettes.

Mounted in the frame members 1 and 2 is a shaft 3 on which is journaled disc cams 4, 5, 6 and 7. The disc 4 presents a groove in which a follower roller 8 is arranged. The roller is secured to a lever 9 which actuates a lever 10 through a means 11. The lever 10 is mounted on a lever 12 which is secured to a plate 14 on which are disposed a number of parallel rams 13 presenting rectangular cross section. The rams 13 and the plate 14 are adapted to be displaceable on a plate 15 in a direction which is parallel with the direction of the shaft 3. The rams 13 and the plate 14 execute a reciprocating movement when the disc ram 4 is rotated. During a portion of this movement the rams 13 pass through a hole arranged in the frame member 1. The plate 15 is arranged with a vertically arranged rail or disc 17 by means of brackets 16. The disc 17 is arranged by means of bearing devices 18 between the frame members 19 and 20. The lever 13 is arranged at the disc 17 in order to control the said displacement, wherein the lever is co-linked with an arm 22, the other end of which is secured to the frame by means of attachments 23. Arranged on the arm 22 is a follower roller 21 which is adapted to follow a groove in the disc cam 5.

Arranged between the brackets 16 by means of a shaft 24 is a plate 25 which extends in its longitudinal direction through a hole arranged in the frame member 1. The portion of the plate 25 located on the other side of the frame member 1 is built up vertically and its upper portion presents a bottom plate 42. Hence, the surface of the plate 42 is located below the bottom surface of the rams 13. A number of plates 43 are arranged parallel in the plate 42. Plates 43 are so arranged that the rams when displaced pass between the plates, as can be seen from FIGURE 3. The plate 25 is, moreover, so arranged that the portion of said plate provided with a bottom plate can be moved somewhat vertically. For this purpose a support 26 is arranged on the bottom of said plate; the support abutting an arm 27 which is mounted on a shaft 28. Secured to the opposite end of the arm 27 is a cam follower roller 29 which is adapted to abut the disc cam 7. As the disc 7 rotates the arm 27 is lowered somewhat during a certain portion of one turn of said disc, wherein the plate 25 and the bottom plate 42 are also lowered somewhat. The plungers 13 and the bottom plate 42 are thus capable of being moved in a direction at right angles to the shaft 3. The plungers 13 are, furthermore, movable in a direction parallel to the shaft and the plate 42 is somewhat movable in a direction at right angles to the shaft.

A follower roller 31 is arranged to move on the disc cam 6. The roller 31 is attached to an arm 32 which is mounted in the frame member 1 by means of an attachment 33.

The other end of the arm 32 is interlinked with an arm 34; as is evident from FIGURE 2. The other end of the arm 34 cooperates with a system 35 of links, of which two arms 36 are mounted at plates 37. The plates 37 are mounted on parallel shafts 38. The plates 37 are provided on the outer surfaces with a member 39 arranged parallel with the shaft 38, wherein the member 3 9 outside the plate is designed as a stud 50. Arms 36 are mounted on said studs. The frame member 1 presents grooves 40 for the studs 50 so that the plates by means of the arms 36 are capable of being displaced towards or away from one another. Arranged between the outer plates are plates 41 which are mounted on shafts 51 parallel with the shafts 38. The shafts 38 and 51 are spaced equally in the frame member 1. The plates 37 and 41 are normally so positioned that their lower edges are located directly above respective plates 43 and the bottom plate 42. The outer plates 37 are, by means of the link system, moved towards one another at certain positions of the disc earn 6. Because I the cigarettes 54 are located in the space between the different plates the inner plates 41 are also moved towards the center, via said cigarettes 54. Thus the cigarettes are retained between the plates. When the outer plates 37 of the arms 36 have been returned to their normal starting position the inner plates 41 are also returned to their respective normal positions by means of coil springs 52 which are arranged between plate and frame. Arranged above the plates is a store for cigarettes by means of 'curved side walls 52 and an end wall plate 53.

Self adjustable containers 44 are adapted to pass on a continuously advancing chain in front of the bottom plate 42 and the vertical plate 43. The rollers or the chain are indicated with the reference numeral 45, FIGURE 1. Arranged on the bottom of the containers is a lever system 46 presenting a pressure roller 47. Arranged immediately in front of the cigarette store in the path of the pressure roller is an abutment surface 48. When the roller 47 contacts the abutment 48 the container 44 is actuated by the lever system 46 so that the walls of the container are moved apart and its cover plate lifted, whereby the discharge opening 49 of the container is widened so that introduction of the cigarettes into the holder is made easy.

Insertion of the cigarettes from the store into the containers is effected in the following manner. The cigarettes are collected between the walls 52 and 53 of the store so that their longitudinal direction coincides with the longitudinal direction of the shafts 38 and 51. These shafts are adapted to rotate slowly. The cigarettes 54 are fed down between the shafts and fall between the obliquely positioned plates and between the plates 43 against the bottom plate 42. When the required number of cigarettes has fallen down in each groove, in the shown instance 3 cigarettes, the disc cam 6 occupies such a position that the outer plates are moved towards each other by means of the arms 32, 34, 35 and 36. As previously mentioned remaining plates also move towards the center, acting through the intermediary of the intermediate cigarettes, whereby the cigarettes are prevented from falling down. As soon as the supply of cigarettes has been interrupted the disc cam 7 is in such position that the arm 27 is lowered somewhat so that the plate 25 is lowered to corresponding degree and therefore also bottom plates 42 and plates 43. On completion of the lowering movement, the plates 25 and and disc 17 are moved in a direction parallel with the direction in which the chain and containers 44 move. Subsequent to the lowering of the plate the disc cam 5 has reached a position in which the cam follower roller 21 and the arms 22 and displace the disc 17. The disc 17 is displaced at a speed which corresponds to the operating speed of the chain. Thus, the bottom plate 42 and plates 43, between which the cigarette portion is located, move through a distance parallel with the containers 44. During this movement the portion of cigarettes is located opposite the discharge opening 49 of the containers 44. As previously mentioned the side walls of the containers are moved apart during this movement and the cover plate raised.

Upon commencement of the parallel movement of bottom plate 42 and container 44 the disc cam 4 has rotated so that its follower roller 8, via the arms 9, 10 and 12, causes the rams 13 to be displaced in a direction towards '4 the container. '44. As is evident from FIGUREjthe rams during this displacement movement pass between the plate 43 arranged at the bottom plate and thereby eject the cigarettes 54 located between the plates into the container 44.

Upon continued rotation of the'shaft 3 the disc cam 4 is turned in such a way that the cams 12 are returned to the starting position, whereupon the cam 5 is rotated so that the disc 7 is returned to its original starting position. On completion of the sequence the plate 25 is raised to its original starting position by means of the disc cam 7 via the roller 29 and the arm 27.-The bottom plate 42 with plate 43 thereby adopt their starting position under the plates 37 and 41 of the discharged store. The outer plates are simultaneously moved apart by the actuation of disc cam 6 via the arms 32, 34, 35 and 36. The inner plates 41 reoccupy their original positions, under the actuation of the coil springs 52.

When the cigarettes have been inserted in the container 44 and the rams 13 have begun their return movement actuation by the pressure roller 47 and the levers 46 ceases, whereupon the cover is lowered and the side walls moved towards each other. In this way the cigarettes are grouped so that they adopt the positions which they will occupy in the finished cigarette pack.

Cigarettes are often packed in an even number, e.g. in portions of twenty. In the shown embodiment of the discharge means three cigarettes are positioned between the plates 43 arranged on the bottom plate 42 between each plate, there being found seven such vertical rows. Thus a total of twenty-one cigarettes are passed down. No more than twenty cigarettes must be passed to the container 44 and hence one cigarette must be prevented from being moved over to the container. This is effected by arranging between two plates 43, opposite one cigarette in the row, a plate which prevents one cigarette in this row from being discharged. A recess is arranged in the ram, which passes between said plates, opposite the cigarette in question so that this is not acted upon by the ram. When the rams pass between the plates 43 all cigarettes are forced out with the exception of those situated opposite the plate 55. This cigarette remains in position while the rams 13 are located between the plate. As soon as the rams are moved back the cigarettes fall down towards the bottom plate 42 so that a new portion ready for transfer through the next container on the chain is obtained.

Thus, by means of the arrangement as described above a discharge means has been obtained which permits the containers to be moved continuously past the cigarette store and which enables the cigarettes to be transferred from the store to the containers in a satisfactory manner.

The cigarette portion obtained from the store moves parallel with the container for a certain distance and the store of cigarettes is held closed during the transfer of the said portion to the container, thereby preventing the cigarettes from being damaged when they are transferred, and also preventing the cigarettes from being discharged from the store during the transfer period. Thus, the described arrangement provides for a continuously operating sequence in cigarette packaging machines, which imparts a higher speed to the machine and which thereby gives a higher production capacity.

What is claimed is:

1. An arrangement in a continuously operating cigarette packaging machine for discharging a portion of cigarettes from a cigarette storage means to a container, said machine comprising a storage means, a chain arranged to pass the storage means at a constant speed, containers being arranged at fixed distances on said chain, parallel shafts at the bottom of said storage means, guide plates depending from said shafts saidcigarettes in the storage means being adapted to be passed down in a direction transverse to their longitudinal axis between said shafts and said guide plates, a bottom plate provided with vertically parallel plates under said guide plates, said guide plates being so positioned that their lower edges are located opposite corresponding edges on said vertical plates, the space between said vertical plates being adapted to be fitted with cigarettes from said storage means by means of said guide plates, said cigarettes between said vertical plates constituting one portion, plunger means movable in their longitudinal direction and being arranged between said vertical plates, a movable rail for mounting said bottom plate and said plunger means, said rail being displaceable in a direction. parallel with the direction of the movement of said container and being adapted to be actuated by a first disc cam, the movement of said first disc cam being coordinated with the movement of said containers, said coordination being so arranged that said bottom plate, said plunger means and said container move along a certain length of the path of movement of said containers in parallel, side by side relationship, a second disc cam to actuate said plunger means, said second disc cam being actuated during said parallel movement of said bottom plate, plunger means and containers, said plunger means being adapted to transfer said portion of cigarettes between said vertical plates into a container situated in front of said vertical plates during movement along said path.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said bottom plate is arranged on a second plate, said second plate being arranged on a shaft mounted in said movable rail, said second plate being adapted to be actuated by a third disc cam, the movement of said third disc cam being coordinated with the movement of said container, said container being so arranged that said second plate with said bottom plate and said vertical plates are lowered before said parallel movement commences.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1, wherein of said guide plates comprise at least two outer plates and intermediate plates, said outer plates being rotatably arranged around said respective shafts by stud means, said stud means being arranged at each outer plate, levers being mounted to said stud means, said levers being adapted to be actuated by a fourth disc cam, the movement of said fourth disc cam being coordinated with the movement of said bottom plate, said coordination being so arranged that said outer plates are moved together immediately when said container reaches said bottom plate, said outer plates causing the intermediate plates to move together by means of the cigarettes lying between said guide plates.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein a resilient means is arranged between each of said intermediate plates and a wall of said storage means, said resilient means being adapted to return said intermediate plates to a starting position after said actuation by said fourth disc cam has ceased.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,888,386 11/1932 Johnson et a1. 53151 1,986,215 1/1935 jrstrom 53151 2,778,476 1/1957 Engleson et al 19835 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner R. L. SPRUILL, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

